Twin cyclone leave livelihoods in tatters

Perupalem/Narsapur For generations, coconut trees have been more than just crops for the people in the coastal districts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and West Godavari.

They have been their livelihood. However, two cyclones that hit the coastal district of Andhra Pradesh within the span of a week have left the coconut growers, farmers and fishing communities in the region staring down the barrel as thousands of coconut trees were flattened, lakhs of acres of paddy fields were wiped out, and dozens of boats became dysfunctional. Konaseema district has witnessed the swath of destruction, with over 73,500 coconut trees uprooted and paddy destroyed across 1,18,109 acres, leaving around 88,000 farmers in tatters.

Meanwhile, in West Godavari district, 27,397 coconut trees were destroyed, affecting more than 5,000 small and marginal growers. Andhra Pradesh was ravaged by two cyclones between October 28 and November 3.